This bill was unanimously tabled by legislators in House Human Services Committee.

Menstrual products are a basic necessity, like toilet paper, yet these products are often not offered in school or correctional facilities bathrooms.  House Bill 498 would require the development of policies and procedures for distributing menstrual products in state and local correctional facilities; require the Department of Public Health and Human Services to provide menstrual products to schools and homeless shelters; and prohibit retail barriers to purchasing menstrual products.

According to a national survey, 1 in 5 teens has struggled to afford period products and 4 in 5 teens either missed or knew someone who missed class time because they did not have access to period products. Missing school  makes it difficult to keep up with classmates, perform well in school, and can result in lack of confidence and ability to access future opportunities. 

Menstruators who are incarcerated often have to beg or bargain with staff in order to get menstrual products to manage their periods. If menstrual products are not given to incarcerated individuals, sometimes they are available through the prison commissary, often for inflated prices. Incarcerated women usually come from low-income backgrounds, and purchasing menstrual products could be a barrier for them.

Federal prisons provide menstrual products free-of-charge and over a dozen states have passed laws requiring free menstrual products in school or correctional facilities. Montana must join them!

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